Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-01-25

square, Bloomsbury: but in his calmer
moments he reflected that at least he was
occupying n different position from that
of the rest of his fellow clerks.
The chief man in Turin, so far as
Hodgson, Dunford & Parr were con-
cerned, was a certain Count Marsoni.
The counts nobility did not prevent his
being the principle member of a large
firm Of merchants and shipowners. To
cultivate this man was, indeed. the chief
reason of Mr.. Hodgson's journey to
Turin; and, as the old banker knew very
well how to lay aside his crISty and
pompous manner when it suited his book
TO do so, he o o came TO bc a not unfre'
quent guest at the Villa Marsoni.
Mr.. Ilolgson began to see that there
was a very fair opening for an English
bank at Turin, and he was still engaged
in pushing his way here and there, when
he received news that his wife was So
riously i'll. This made him hurry of to
England. leaving MatherS lchInd him TO
complete II transaction which lc had al
ready practically arranged.
Delighted AT being left to represent the
firm. for ever so short "a time. and ever
SO formal q matter. Mathews was pacing
one day down the principal street Of the
city with a look OF considerable import
ance on his face when he met Count Mar.
som. The count stopped and asked after
the old banker, when Tommy proudly
informed him that he had returned TO
England. leaving him in charge Of the
affairs of the firm.
''Ah. indeed. Well. there's a little
matter I wanted to speak Of to him."
Il shall he happy to serve you. count
said Tommy in his very lsst Italian.
Wei. suppose You dine with us to-
night. and we can talk il over after din.
ner, - returned the count, who thought
he ought { % show a little attention to the
lonely Englishman.
or course the invitation was accepted,
and Tommy had nj sooner entered the
drawing room at the Villa Marsoni than
he lost his heart at once, irrcyocably and
forever. Maria Marsmi was, indeed,
beautiful and vivacIous enough 10 have
turned the head Of 2 wiser and colder
hlo@lrl man than Tommy Mathcrs; and
SO ready Was he to amusr her 10y his
efforts TO speak a language that he par.
TALLY knew that he won more favor in
the maidcn's eyes than many a more
brilliant talker would have done. Such
an impression. indeed. did the slgnnrina's
bright eyes make upon Tommy : suscep.
tlhlc heart that he was barely able To give
due attention to the count when, after
dinner, he ls'gan Ia talk Of hills, discount,
mortgages and dcbcnturcs.
Time went on; Mr.. llplgSon did not
return To Turn, and Mr.. Mathcrs paid
several visits Ia the counts residence,
coming away more in love every time,
Meanwhile, by dint Of going about con-
tlnually among the citizens. the young
man was able TO send home So good a list
of prospective customers that the partners
determined In establish a branch office at
Turn. anil offer young Mathers d subor-
dlnate post in It.
Nuthing definite. however. had leen
fixed. when one day Tommy finding
Nara Marsoni alone when he called at
ilr villa. lost his head completely, and
was making love as well as his imperfect
know I,Flgc of Italian permitted, when
the count. Suddenly coming m. caught
Inn in the act IT kissing his daughters
hand.
Mara fed like a hare disturbed on her
form. and the count advanced with a
heavy frnwn on his a%ristocratir brow.
More A. a matter Of form than any.
thing else. for he knew his case Was hope.
less, Mathers formally asked the hand
Of the signOrina in marriage. laying the
blame Of his irregular declaration on the
strength Of his passion and his ignorance
of Italian etiquette
The count heard him to the end, and
then surveyed him from head TO foot
with a look Of contempt.
1T is piece Of gross presumption in
you-a mere clerk. a nobody-to address
my daughter" sad the count at last in
English. with his chin in the air.
''0f course" said Tommy bitterly,
stung by the count look. IF were a
partner in Hodgson's, though. you would
give me a different answer
IF you were a partner in McSsrs.
HodgSon. Dunford q PARIS" sand the
count. with an altered expression, that
would make a difference Of course: hut
as | do not understand that you have any
prospect of entering that lirm, / don see
how that affects you"
Tommy sighed, and made his escape as
soon as possible. He knew that be might
as well ask for the lord chancellorshlp as
ask for a partnership in the bank.
For two days he remained in a state OF
collapse and then he received advices
from London informing linn Of the de-
cislon 10 which the firm had come with
respect TO the new branch. A few
months before Mathcrs would have been
transported with delight at the proposal
which the firm made 10 him; but now he
considered that he was getting barely his
due, and. besides, he was so cut up with
respect to the beautiful Maria that mere
commercial matters did not possess their
usual interest for linn.
Suddenly, AS he sat with the open let
ter bearing the well known signature be-
fore him, Tommy conceived an idea.
Without n moments delay he called
for his I'LL at the hotel, sent q waiter for
a rab and took the first train northward.
lie arrived at Victoria early in the morn.
ing, went 10 a hotel, washed and dressed
himself, and, purposely delaying until
the partners should have reached the
office in st. Swithin's lane, he presented
himself leforc his employers as they were
engaged IN discussing the morning S let.
tors.
Hello sir. cried Mr.. Holgson, as h.
caught sight Of the young man. "What
are Won ,lJInr herry ANYTHING wrOnyyN